The Zhou brothers are contemporary artists from Chicago known for their unique collaborative work process with an aesthetic that combines Eastern and Western philosophy, White House officials said.

Zhou Brothers Discuss Painting Gift To Hu

In honor of President Hu's State Visit, President Obama presented the Chinese leader with a painting created by the Zhou Brothers. The brothers discussed the concept behind their work with White House videographers. (Published Friday, Jan. 21, 2011)

For the Chinese leader, DaHuang and Shan Zuo Zhou created an original multi-textural oil painting on canvas. Inspiration arose from the brothers' passion and love of America, DaHuang said, and the brothers decided such an important project called for a work of a certain scale: the painting is 86 inches wide and 68 inches high. Six and eight have special meaning in China and are considered lucky numbers that also coincide with China's country code 86.

"From the Great Wall of China to the portraits of the eight U.S. Presidents since President Nixon’s historic trip to China in 1972, the painting is replete with imagery and motifs that represent 5,000 years of Chinese culture and the friendship that our two countries have shared," White House officials said.

The brothers were on hand Tuesday night when President Obama gave the painting to President Hu.